Global

North America facing 'megadrought'?

Western North America experienced the strongest drought in 800 years from 2000 to 2004 – but that may be the new normal for the next century. Reduction in carbon uptake during turn of the century drought in western North America – pg 551 – 556, by a group of 10 researchers in the current issue of Nature Geoscience, looks at the reduced carbon uptake (by 51%) in drought stressed forests, based on a study of the 2000-2004 drought throughout western North America.

Video-- 2011 Earthquakes Worldwide–Plotted with Magnitudes

Video– 2011 Earthquakes Worldwide–Plotted with Magnitudes

Global Warming Moves us Closer to the Ultimate Disaster

Doomsday clock moves closer to midnight

Numerous articles (including USA Today’s) note that scientists have moved the hands of the doomsday clock toward midnight – as a visible metaphor for our lessened security due to our fuelish ways.  It is notoriously hard to change our social (i.e., automotive) ways, but the consequences of our not taking a long term view are increasingly resulting in massive storm and economic damage today to societies across the globe.

Cost of Global Warming Apparent as US Reaches 12th Mega-Disasters in 2011-- each over a Billion $

CBS notes that this year’s 12 disasters costing over 1 billion dollars each surpasses the number seen during all the 1980’s – even with inflation adjustments. In associated reports they note that the Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change’s latest report indicated that additional small and large disasters can be expected with global warming.

Natural Disasters Displace 42 Million in 2010

About 42 million people were forced to flee their homes because of natural disasters around the world in 2010, more than double the number during the previous year, experts said Monday.